When the story begins, you see an Indian attack on some innocent settlers. However, a macho guy (Gene Evans) manages to kill the Chief drive them away. Soon, however, you see that it's all a play...much like the fake battles staged for Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. And, the 'macho guy' turns out to be 'Wildcat' Gallagher, the guy who's in charge of this traveling show.
During the show, American Indians are one-dimensional killers and soon it becomes apparent that the message has rubbed off on many of the white audience members. Stirred up by Gallagher and his flunky, soon innocent and law-abiding Indians are beaten...one practically to death. But this isn't the end of the mistreatment of the natives in the episode.
This is generally a good episode because it does expose the dangerous and blood-thirsty Indian as a bit of a myth. It also humanizes these people...which is very positive. Unfortunately, like too many westerns of the era, however, the 'Indians' are not actual American Indians and having white guys posing as them is disappointing.
I was annoyed though as, once again, Deputy MacGregor proves himself to be completely worthless! Through this episode, I have never really seen anything MacGregor has done to earn the right to be a deputy and he once again is worthless. I blame the writers for this...he had little in the way of depth nor could you see why Marshall Crown would ever ask for his help! And, as for Crown, he is pretty ineffectual through much of the episode as well...saying he cared about the fate of the local Indians but often doing too little too late.
Overall, a real mixed bag but a very original episode...worth seeing but far from perfect. Its message, though at times sincere, is muddled due to the casting and overall ineffectual nature of the law in this one...and it left me frustrated as it could have been a great episode.
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